A commander of the Livestock Guard has been assassinated in Benue State’s Ukum Local Government Area by unknown gunmen.
The government established the Livestock Guards to enforce compliance with the State Anti-Open Grazing Law.
According to witnesses, the death of the ward commander, Jarule Likita, has caused tension in the region.
According to locals, the slain commander was stationed in the Mbatian ward of Ukum LGA until he was assassinated.
The members of the community stated that the deceased died after being shot many times in the chest by the assailants in Tine-Nune village in the state’s Ukum LGA.
Likita’s assassination makes him the fifth ward livestock commander to be assassinated by unknown assailants in the Ukum area in recent years.
Linus Zaki, the State Commander of the Livestock Guards, told newsmen that four of his men had recently been killed in the region.
“I was just informed that some armed men attacked and killed him (Likita). Today, he is the only one who was killed. They have been killing them like that. Three of my men died about two months ago. They just come, fire them, and go away.
“They call them gunmen, unknown gunmen; that is the report reaching me. One went to pick up his wife and was gunned down, as were others. I do not know where these gunmen are coming from,” Zaki said.
